Wrapping machine



l April 22, 1941- w. H. SERGENT 2,239,375

wRAPPING uAcHINE Q l g5.

April 22, 1941- I w. H. SERGENT 2,239,375

' WRAPPING CHINE Filed Aug.v 15, 193s 1'o sheets-sheet 2 "3K5 Q @n f KNS -M April-22, 1941. w. H. SERGENT WRAPPING MACHINE 5 M u De m w y ,m m W q u m 7D m IIIIIIIIIII-IIIII -April 22, 1941. w. H. SERGENT 2,2395375 WRPPING ACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1938 l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 eal.

APU 22, 1941 w. H. SERGENT 2,239,375

WRAPPING KAGHINE Filed Aug. l5, 1958 10 -SheeS--Sheelz 5 V//AW/l/ UU l .l k Q w E WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug'.v 15, 1938 lil IIIW @A LunnlllHl April 22, 1941- w. H. SERGENT 2,239,375

W'RAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1938 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 El Q 9 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 April 22, 1941. w. H. SERGENT WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1938 April 22 1941- w. H. SERGENT 2,239,375

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug.` 15, 1938 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 April 22, 1941. w. H. SERGENT WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. l5, 1938 10 SheeiLS-Sheel'I l0 APatented `Apr. 22, 1941 WBAPPING MACHINE Walter Baynes Sergent, Middletown, N. Y., as-

signor to Ideal Wrapping Machine Company, Middletown, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 15, 193s, serial No. 224,932

(ci. sis-4) l `17 Claims. This invention relates to an improved form `of wrapping machine `particularly adapted for wrapping a number of individually wrapped caramels ,or other rectangular pieces of candy into a single package. This invention also contemplates the use of Cellophane as a wrapping material and takes advantage of the property of Cellophane of adhering to itself when heated and pressed together in the nal sealing of the wrapped package.` Although the machine embodying my invention is designed to wrap candies in groups, it may also be used to wrap single candies or other articles besides candies.

Machines have been made, prior to my invention, for wrapping a plurality of candies into a single package, but these machines have required frequent attention from the operator because oi jamming caused by variation in the size of the candies. This variation in size causes little trouble with single candies, but when candies are wrapped together in groups, the varia- `tions in size of the separate candies add up, and the total often exceeds that which the machine can accommodate. One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a mechanism for eliminating this variation in the size of the candies and to thus prevent ,Jamming of the machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved and simplified wrapping mechanism having a smaller number of parts than hitherto thought to be necessary. Another object of my invention to to provide a machine for wrapping candies in which the wrapping material is folded down from all sides onto the ends of the candies in superposed layers,

` so that the wrapping material can be securely held onto the candy by merely causing the layers of wrapping material at the ends of the candies `to adhere to each other.

`vide an improved discharge box. mounting which i will allow the discharge` box for receiving candies from the wrapping mechanism to yield freely in case candies get jammed between it and the wrapping mechanism.

With these and other objects in view, which will become more apparent in the following description and disclosures in the drawings, my invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination hereinafter described and more specifically pointed out in theappended claims.

, In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the diil'erent views:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine with the lower `part of the supporting base broken off.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the feeding and sizing mechanism Yof the machine, a portion ofA the wrapping wheel being shown in its proper relation and in section.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through a portion of the feeding mechanism taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows. 4

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectionview taken on the line V-V of Figure 4, looking clown in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on the line VI--VI of-Figure 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows. n j

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on the line VII-VII of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on the line vnrvnr of Figure 2 and iooking in the direction yof the arrows.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the more important driving members of the machine in their proper relative positions.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line X-X of Figure 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 1l is a plan view of th discharge portion of the machine.

Figure l2 is a vertical section with parts in elevation, taken on `the line XII-XII of Figure 11 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 13 is an end elevation of the discharge portion of the apparatus, looking in the direction of the arrows from the line XIII-XIII of VFigure 11.

Figure 14 is a vertical section taken on the line XIV-XIV of Figure 11 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 15 is a vertical section taken on the 2 :,asasvs line XV-XV of Figure 11 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 16 to 22 are isometric views showing the successive steps performed by the machine in wrapping up several pieces of candy into a single package.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is a machine for taking a predetermined number of small rectangular caramels that have been previously wrapped in another machine and wrapping them up in cellophane into a single package. In general, the machine comprises a base 2l and an oil case 22 supported by the -base and forming the frame of the machine.

On one side of the base 2l is mounted a bracket,

23 which carries a large roll 24 of Cellophane or other suitable wrapping material. From the roll 24 the strip of Cellophane 25 passes over ten.- sioning rollers 23 and 21 and through a brushing device 23 to the paper feeding mechanism 23. In their construction 4and operation, these parts are similar to corresponding parts shown in my Patents No. 1,574,120 and No. 2,014,593, and need not be described here in detail.

n the side of the oil case 22 is mounted a feeding and sizing mechanism 3|, which will be described in detail below. This mechanism receives the individually wrapped caramels or candies which are fed to the machine, and it forms successive groups of candies, each group having a predetermined number in it. 'Ihe successive groups of candies are taken one at a time by the feeding and sizing mechanism and pressed together so that they will have the proper size to go through the wrapping mechanism. Each group of candies is then pushed into a pocket 32 in the periphery of a wrapping wheel 33 which is also mounted on the side of the oil case 22.

As the group of candies enters the pocket 32 of the wrapping wheel 33, it carries with it a piece of Cellophane sheared oil from the strip of Cellophane 25 by the paper or Cellophane feeding mechanism 23. 'I'he wrapping wheel 33, in conjunction with other wrapping mechanism located upon the side of the oil case 22, folds the piece of Cellophane around the pieces of candy, as will be described more in detail below, and then, after the wheel has rotated through an angle of 180, discharges the wrapped candies into a discharge box 34. As one package after another is fed into the discharge box, each package pushes the ones ahead of it through the box and into a discharge vchute 35. The packages have been wrapped so that the Cellophane is folded down from vall four y sides over the ends of the packages, and they are pushed sideways through the chute so that their ends are exposed. As the packages of candy enter the discharge chute 35, their ends are pressed and ironed by heated shoes 35 so as to make the overlapping folds on the ends of the packages adhere to each other. This operation completes the wrapping of the candies.

Feedingv and sizing mechanism downtoapredeterminedsizetoinsurethatthey will nt into the pocket of the wrapping wheel 33.

' wrapping wheel 33. The major part of these three mechanisms are supported by a feed belt .bracket 31 secured to one side of the oil case 23 asshowninFigurLfiand.

'I'he belt feed mechanism, in general, is similar to that shown in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,654,146,1ssuedDecember27, 192'1,and need not be described in great detail. In brief, it includes a pair of feed belt pulleys 33'and 33 fixed to shafts 4I and 42 which are rotatably mounted in the feed belt bracket 31. These two pulleys 33 and 33, in connection with an outboard pulley 43, seen in Figure 1, serve to carry a feed belt 44. The upper reach of the feed belt 44 lies in a groove in the top of a fixed plate or feed plunger bracket 45 secured to the top of the feed belt bracket 31 and serves to bring candies individually wrapped in another machine to this machine to be wrapped up into packages. The inboard feed belt pulleys 38 and 33 are driven through their shafts 4I and 42 and a train of gears 45, 41, 43, 43, 5I, 5I and 52 from a Geneva gear 53, which also drives the wrapping wheel 33. Driving the belt 44from the Geneva gear 53 causes it to move forward intermittently so that it has a period of rest between each forward movement. Thus, the belt C4 comes to rest each time that a group of candies is to be removed from it, and then it moves forward again to bring another group of candies into place.

Since the candies 54 are carried on edge by the belt, as shown in Figure 4, there is a tendency for them, and especially the leading candy, to fall forward when the belt starts or stops. In order to prevent this, I have provided a drag mechanism which exerts a slight retarding force on the upper edges of the candies and prevents their falling forward. This mechanism comprises a belt cover plate 55 which lies directly above the point where the candies 54 are removed from lthe belt. 'I'he cover plate 55 has a large central aperture in which are mounteda large number of small rolls 55 which hang down into the path of thecandies 54. 'I'hese rolls are carried on pins or spindles 51 which extend across the opening in the belt cover plate 55 in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the belt 44. The ends of the pins 51, as shown in Figure 6, are supported in vertical slots in the belt cover plate 55. 'I'his allows the rolls 55 and the pins 51 to rise slightly and allow the candies 54 to'pass l after they have been removed from the feed belt.

beneath them, as shown in. Figure 4. At the same time, it provides a slight resistance to the forward movement of the upper parts of the candies, which I have found, desirable in order to prevent their falling forward.

The sizing mechanism is mounted on the feed plunger bracket 45 alongside of the feed belt 44 and is arranged to act on the groups of candies 'I'hismechanism comprises a sizing plunger 53 mounted in a guide 53 which is bolted or otherwise fixed to the top of the feed plunger bracket 45. A stud having a flange 6I secured by a pair of screws to the upper surface of the sizing -plunger 53 and projecting up through a slot` in `tions are shown in Figure 1.

in the sizing plunger Il. and the portion above the flange Il forms a bearing for one end of a link 62. The other end of the link 32 is connected to the outer end of an arm `33 xed to the upper end of a vertical rock shaft M. The rock shaft Il` is journaled in a bearing I carried by the feed plunger bracket Il. The lower end of the rock shaft Il has an arm 66 keyed to it. The end of the rock shaft arm 96 is connected by a link 31 to a lever- 6I fulcrunied within the oil case 22.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the lever 83 carriesa roller 69 which is acted upon by a cam 1I mounted on theV main shaft 12 of the machine. The cam 1I is shaped so as to cause the sizing plunger ,6| to reciprocate in the` correct synchronism with the movements of the other elements of the machine, as described below.

The feed plunger mechanism forms the third part of the feeding and sizing mechanism and is shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. It comprises afeed plunger 13 having an integral head 1l and reciprocably mounted in a feed plunger slide 15.

The slide 15 is carried by the feed plunger bracket "and is placed at right angles to the path of the belt Il and the sizing plunger 5l, as shown in Figure 3. 'I'he head 14 of the feed plunger 13 is considerably wider than the body of the feed plunger and has a backwardly extending skirt or stop 16 riveted to one side in order to prevent candies from being carried behind it by the belt M when it is in its forward position.

The feed plunger 13 is provided with a stud 11 which projects out laterally through a slot in the feed plunger slide 15 and which is connected by a link 13 toa depending lever 13. These connec- The lever 19 is pivoted on a bracket l0 fastened to the oil case 22 and is operated by means of a link 3| from an ejector lever 32. The ejector lever 32 is rotatably mounted upon the hub of an ejector lever retainer 93 which is keyed to a rock shaft Il extending out from the oil case 22. As seen in Figure 8, the rock shaft 34 is carried in a long outwardly projecting bearing bracket 35 mounted on the side of the oil case 22 and on an inner bearing 99 mounted within the oil case. Keyed to the rock shaft 34 near its inner end is an upwardly extending arm 91 whose upper end is provided with a laterally extending roller 3l. The

roller Il travels in a groove 93 in the side of the cam 1I, as shown in Figure 10.

The cam groove 93 is shaped so as to bring the lever l1 forward in two steps and to return it to its original position in a single step for a purpose which will presently be described. This movement is transmitted by the rock shaft 3l to the ejector lever retainer 93. 'Ihe ejector lever 82 is not fixed directly to the ejector lever retainer 83 or to the rock shaft 94 but, as stated above, is journaled upon the hub of the retainer 83. The lever 82 and retainer are normally kept in a xed relation to each other by means of a spring 90 (shown in Figure 1) which presses the lever against a stop on the retainer. This construction is similar to that shownin my U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,014,593, issued on September 17, 1935, and provides enough resiliency in the drive of the feed plunger 13 to prevent damage in case the machineshould accidentally become jammed.

and sizing is as follows: I'he feed, belt Il is kept supplied with individually wrapped candies Il. either by an operator who places manually upon it the output of several candywrappins machines or by some suitable mechanism designed for this purpose. During each cycle of operation of the machine, the feed belt 44 is moved forward a distance equal to or slightly greater than the total thickness of the number of individual candies to be wrapped up in a single package. This brings the` candies up against a candy stop 9| extending across the feed belt 44 in line with the far side of the wrapping wlieel 33. The desired number of candies is then directly in front of the head 14 of the feed plunger 13. 'I'he feed plunger 13 then moves forward in the first step of its forward motion and pushes the desired number of candies olf the feed belt M and in front of the sizing plunger 53. At this point the feed plunger 13 stops momentarily, due to the shape of the groove 99 in the cam 1I. The sizing plunger 59 then moves forward from the full line position shown in Figure 5` to the dotted line position shown in the same figure, in which position the distance between itsface and the opposed face of the candy stop 9i is slightly less than the Width of the wrapping wheel 33. If the total width of the candies in this space was originally greater than this dimension, the candies are now squeezed down until they will t readily into the pockets 32 of the wrapping wheel 33. The feed plunger 13 then makes the second step of its forward movement and pushes the candy into a pocket of the wrapping wheel 33, which at this moment is stationary. As the candies are pushed into the pockets 32 of the wrapping wheel, they carry with them the end 25 of the strip of wrapping material or cellophane, which has been moved up into position between the feeding and sizing mechanism and the wrapping wheel by means of the paper feeding mechanism 29. The paper feeding mechanism 29 is synchronized so that it shears ofi the correct size or length of wrapping material or Cellophane from the end of the strip 25 as soon as the end begins to be held by the f `candies entering the wrapping wheel pocket 32.

Thus, it cooperates with the feeding and sizing mechanism to place in the wrapping wheel pockets 32 the proper number of pieces of candy and the proper size piece of wrapping material or Cellophane.

Wrapping mechanism I which candies are resiliently retained in the pocket. In the bottom of each pocket is mounted a plunger |03 which can slide in and out and by means of which the candies are ejected from the wrapping wheel at the end of the wrapping operation. Each end of each pocket is partly closed olf by an end finger or plate i961 secured to the side of the wrapping wheel. As will be seen from Figure 6, the end finger i04 is narrower than the pocket 32 so that slots are left at each side of the finger I 04 at the corners of the pocket.

By providing the wrapping wheel pockets 32 with end iingers |04 as described above, the first four folds in the sheet of Wrapping material 25 will be made as thepieces of candy 54 are placed in the wrapping wheel pocket. As the candi-es 54 are about to enter the wrapping wheel pocket 32, their position relative to the sheet of wrapping material 25 is as shown in Figure 16.' As the candies are pushed into the pocket, the springs |02 at each side of the pocket form the two side folds and |06, and the end fingers |04 form the rst end folds |01.

The formation of the upper side fold |06 is assisted by a pair of paper break arms ||0, one of which can be seen in Figure 1 on the near side of the wrapping wheel 33. The two paper break arms ||0 are arranged symmetrically at the two sides of the wrapping wheel 33 and swing down and forward, just before the candies are loaded into the pocket 32, to a position in which they are in line with the upper side of the pocket 32. In this position, they form, in eifect, continuations of the pocket spring |02 forming the upper side of the pocket, so that the end portions of the side fold |06 that project beyond the pocket and form the end folds |09 are folded down by the paper break arms ||0 in much the same way as the main part of the side fold |08 is folded down by the pocket spring |02. The result is as shown in Figure 17. At the same time the second and third end folds |08 and |09 are partly formed and project out through the slots lying at each side of the end fingers |04.

After a group ofcandies is placed in the wrapping wheel pocket 32-, the wrapping wheel 33 is rotated through one-sixth of a turn so as to bring another pocket 32 into position to be filled and so as .to carry the candies in the already filled pocket to position where the remainder of the wrapping mechanism may operate upon them. 'I'he rotation of the wrappingl wheel 33 takes place step by step, each step being 60, since the wrapping wheel has six pockets equally spaced around its periphery. The mechanism for accomplishing this step-by-step rotation is similar to that shown in U. S. Patents No. 1,082,463 and No. 2,014,593 mentioned above. This mechanism comprises the Geneva gear 53 already mentioned and an arbor 93 which carries both'the Geneva gear and the wrapping wheel 33, as shown in Figure 8. 'Ihe Geneva gear 53 is rotated step by step by means of pins or rollers 94 carried upon the side of the Geneva gear driver 95. 'I'he periphery .of the Geneva gear driver 95 is formed into a spur gear which engages with a pinion 96 upon the main shaft 12 of the machine. The Geneva gear driver 95 is provided with two pins 94, placed 180 apart, and has twice the number of gear teeth as the pinion 99. It will therefore cause the Geneva gear 53 to rotate one step for each complete revolution of the main shaft 12. Thus, as the main shaft 12 is rotated, the machine `will go through one cycle of operation for each revolution of the shaft 12; As may be noted in Figures 8 and 9, .the Geneva gear 53 not only drives the wrapping wheel 33 and the train of gears starting with the gear 52 leading to the belt feed, but also drives another gear 99. This gear is the first of a train of gears leading to the paper feeding mechanism 29 and thus provides the paper feeding mechanism with an intermittent motion so that the paper or Cellophane will be stationary at the time that the candies are being fed into the wrapping wheel 33 and the end of the strip of paper or Cellophane is being cut off. This arrangement is similar to that described in the above-mentioned patents and therefore need not be described herein in greater detail.

The mst top fold 1s made after the wrapping wheel 33 rotates one-sixth of a turn from the position which it occupied when it received the candies from the feeding and sizing mechanism. This fold is made by a roller carried by a finger ||2 which is pivoted to the end of a swinging lever ||3, shown in Figure 1. The lever ||3 is swung or rocked by a link ||4 which connects it to an arm ||5 on a rock shaft ||5. A 'I'he roller is urged toward the wrapping wheel 33 by means of a coil spring acting between the finger H2 and the lever ||3, and a stop is provided to prevent the finger ||2 from swinging down too far. Thus, as the arm ||3 swings forward, the roller |I| will roll with an even pressure upon the top of the candies and form 'the first top fold as shown in Figure 18. In order to further insure smooth operation of the machine and to prevent possible breakage of parts in case of accidental damage, the link 4 through which the first top fold mechanism is actuated is provided with a. yieldable portion or slide I8 held in its normal position by a coil spring ||9. Thus, if the roller should meet any unusual resistance, the spring ||9 will yield and prevent any breakage of parts.

The second top fold |2| 1s made by the movement of the wrapping wheel pocket 32 under a second top fold shoe |22,A which is in frictional contact with the top' of the wrapping wheel 33. The shoe |22 ls held in this position by means of a link |23 and a coil spring |24 acting on the link and pressing it down. As the wrapping` wheel 33 rotates through the second 60 from the position in which the candies were loaded into the wrapping Wheel pocket 32, the shoe |22 strikes the upstandingV edge of the sheet of wrapping material projecting from v'the wrapping wheel pocket 32 and folds it down into .the position shown in Figure 19 at |2|.

The second end folds are formed by a pair of swinging end fold shs |25 mounted upon a shaft |26 above the wrapping wheel 33. second end foldshoes |25 are actuated through a yieldable link |21 from an arm |28 flxed to the rock shaft ||5. The end fold shoes |25 are L-shaped, as shown in Figure 1, and are positioned so that, when they are swung down, their angular ends will swing below the periphery of the wrapping wheel 33 so as not to disturb the projecting ends of the top folds and |2|. 'I'he end fold shoes |25 therefore engage only the end folds |00 which extend out through the slots atthe sides of the fingers |04 at the ends of the wrapping wheel pocket 32. 'I'his bends the end folds |08 down into the position shown in Figure 20, in which position they overlie the end fingers |04 on the wrapping wheel.

lThe third end folds |09, which were partially formed as the candies were loaded into the wrapping wheel pocket 32, are completed by means of a pair of end fold shoes |3| which are held against the opposite sides of the wrapping wheel by means of a pair of resiliently pressed links |32. As the wrapping wheel 33 moves through the third arc of 60 from the position in which the candies were loaded into the pocket 32 to the position in which the candies are discharged, the end folds |09 which project out through the slots at the side of the end fingers |04 strike the edges of the stationary end fold shoes' |3| and are.

folded down into the position shown in Figure 21.'

This practically completes the wrapping operation.

` The nal fold in the wrapping of the candies is made as the candies are discharged from the TheV ` and forth by the arm31 and the groove 33 in the cam 1| within the oil case 22. As theV retainer 33 swings forward.` the ejector tappet |33 carried by it comesinto contact with thewrapping wheel pocket plunger |33 and pushes the plunger outward towards the periphery of the wheel, This causes the head |34 of thepiunger to move up from the bottom of the pocket like a piston and to push the candies 54 into the discharge box 34. As the candies enter the discharge box, the projecting end :folds |35iaie folded down against the ends of thecandies on top of the other end folds as shown in Figure 22. 'I'his completes the folding of the Celiophane wrapper around the candies and leaves only one more oberation to `be performed. This-operation, the

causing of the `various layers of Cellophane at the end of the package to stick to each other so that the candies will not-become unwrapped, is performed in the discharge chute.

4 Discharge boa: `a'nd chute The discharge box 34 is carried by a resilient mounting and is constructed in a manner some-` what similar to that shown in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,584,814, issued on May 18, 1926. The mounting comp a bracket `|31 bolted to the side of the oil case 22 and having a vertical link |33 secured to it by apivot |33. Theupper end of the link |33 carries `a second pivot |4| which secures it to the bottom |42 of the discharge box. The bottommember |42 is .provided with a rearwardly extending horizontal slot |43 which engages'a guide key |44r of the bracket |31 and thus forms a slidable connection. 'I'his slidable connection Vand the connection formed by the link |33 serve to allow the discharge box to move backwards a slightdistance while maintainingit in proper alignment. The discharge box 34 is pressed towards the wrapping wheel 33 by means of a relief spring |45 acting between a plate |43 xed to the bracket |31 and the link |33. The discharge box 34 is kept from being moved bythe spring |45 beyond its proper position by means of a rod |43 pivoted tothe link |33 and having stop nuts |41 which bear against the side of the tlxed plate |43 through whichthe rod |43 passes. This arrangement allows the discharge box 34 to yield in case candies get jammed` between it and the wrapping wheel 33` and` prevents breakage of parts whichmight `otherwise occur. In case jamming does occur, they discharge box can be moved back easily against `the tension of the i spring |45by-grasping thev depending end of the link |38 and using it asa leverto force the box back.

The t discharge box 34 `comprises two main members: a bottom |42, already mentioned. and a topmember1|43 bolted to the bottom |42 and forming with it a passage through which the wrapped candies 54 maylpass. 'In order to hold the packages of candies as they are pushed into the discharge box 34, all four sides of the mouth oropeningofthe'box madesothatthey resiiientlypresslmonthepackagesotcandies. 'I'hebottomoi'theboxkprovidedwithahmmed lip |52iixedto atransversely rotate the up |52 upward and press itagnins; the'entering package of 01', if no candies are present, against the bottom of thel box member |43.

The sides of the moutnof the box are formed by a pair of laterally `slidahle dde plates |55. The side plates |55 are provided with studs |53 which slide through. 11015 in the depending sides of the upper portion |43 yof'the discharge boxand thus act as guides.

|51 on the studs |53, between the sideplates |55 andthedependingsidesofthemember |43, serve topressthe sideplates |55 towardseachother andupontheendsoftbepackagesofcandies'f Thestudsiontheside lying between them. plates |55 are provided 'with nuts |53 which bear against the outside of the supported by a bottom platal |35 whose forwardedgeissecuredtothebottxnmemberln of thedischargeboxandfwhoserearporlin restsinashallwrecessinthetopofthedischargeboxbracket |31.

Asthepackages'ofcandesleavethedischarge box 34,theyenterthed ischarge chute 34, theiirstportionofwhiohcxmtainsthemeam' forironingtheendsotthepackagesandcausing `the overlapping en'd folds of cellophane toadhere to'each other. This portion'ofthedischarge chute comprises a bottom |1| connected totheplate lonthebackofthedischargebnx bracket |31 by means of a hinge |12. 'Ihe sides are formed by means of apairof heated shoes or irons 33 pivoted'to arms |14 extending out from under the bottn member4 m. 'rneportionsorthe'shsorirons which lieonthesideofthepathfoftlnacamliesarel resiliently urged towards each other -by means,

of springs |15 acting between the mgm.

ber` |11 and downwardly projecting .oivv

the shoes 33. The springs `|15.a.re prevmted from moving ktheshoes or irons 33v too far by means of stop nuts l|13 onastud |11 iixed to the discharge chutes The 1 shoesor irons 33 are provided with longitudinally i extending cylin' d `cavities in' which m placed electrical heatinglelements |13. Current is supplied tothe heating nements .natal-mn' l a cable |13, and the quantity of currentis eont trolled by means of a rheostat 13| mounted on the top of the oil case22.. This provides a convenient means of controlling the temperahue.

oftneshsassothattheywmbenotenmgn to cause the overlapping folds of ontheendsoftheimckagegofeandiiestoadherl:

discharge box ami, prevent the side plates |55 from moving in be' to each other but will not be hot enough to injuriously affect the candies within the packages.

After the packages of candies pass from between the heated shoes 36, they pass into a sheet' ing packages of candy which is completely automatic in its operation and which is capable of i, i. i, the stack o f candies down to a predetermined size to t intofthe wrapping mechanism and for loading the stack off candies into the wrapping mecha- 5. In a machine for wrapping a predetermined number of pieces of candy into `a singlepackage, the combination `oi a wrapping mechaninn.

mechanism for squeezing the predetermined number of pieces downto a predetermined size so that they will t into the wrapping mechanism, and means for selecting the predetermined number of pieces from a larger number and moving them in a group to the, squeezing mechanism operating at a high rate of speed. It will also be seen that I have provided a wrapping mechanism which is relatively simple in its construction and `operation and which can be manufactured at a machine being used either exactly as it is shown or with slight modications. It should be understood, therefore, that in the following claims the term candy may be either a single piece of candy or several pieces of candy being handled as a. group, and vice versa. It is also to be understood that the term candy is used in the claims as anv example of what the machine may wrap' but that the invention includes machines used to wrap any other articles that can be handled in the same manner as candy. It is also to be understood that the invention is not limited to the machine as a whole, but that the separate parts of it are also inventions in their own right, all as dened in the accompanying claims. In

addition, it is obvious that details of construction 40'.

may be varied. I therefore do not purpose limiting this Vapplication for patent to the specific details shown or described or otherwise than necessitated by the prior art. i

I claim as my invention:

veyor, means for moving candy from the conveyor to a sizing position, means for squeezing candy in the sizing position down to a predetermined dimension, wrapping mechanism, and means for moving the candy from the sizing position to the wrapping mechanism.

2., In a machine of the class described, a wrapping mechanism, means for conveying preformed pieces of candy to the wrapping mechanism and transferring them thereto, and means operative on the preformed pieces of candy for squeezing the candy to a predetermined dimension before it is transferred to the wrapping mechanism.

3. In a machine of the class described, a feed plunger, a collecting station in the path of the feed plunger, a sizing station beside the collecting station and also in the path ofthe feed plunger, a candy-wrapping mechanism placed to receive then to the wrapping mechanism.

6. In a machine for wrapping candy, a wrapping mechanism including pockets for receiving the candyl and having two sides and two ends, a passage for guiding the candy into the pockets and having a movable wall. means for moving candy through the passage to the pockets of the wrapping mechanism, and means for moving the movable wall of the passage to a position in which the size of the passage is the same as the size of the pocket while the candy is in the passage.

7. In a machine for wrapping articles, a pocket having a bottom and two sides and two ends, the

vends being formed by thin stili walls spaced from the sides of the pocket, mechanism for inserting an article to be wrapped into said pocket with a sheet of -paper between said article and Athe bottom and sides and ends of said pocket and with folds of said sheet projecting out frombetween said sides and said ends and with the ends of said sheet projecting up from between said article and the sides of said pocket, means for folding said ends o'f said sheet down on top of said article, means for folding said projecting folds in over saidl thin end plates, and means for ejecting said article out of thetop of said pocket.

8. In a machine for wrapping articles, the combination of apockethaving a bottom and two sides and two ends, said ends being formed by thin stiff end walls spaced from said sides and projecting up from said bottom a distance les "is 1. In a machine of the class described, a conthan the height of said articles, means for placing an article in said pocket with a piece of paper having the central portion thereof` lying between said article and said bottom and having the end and side' portions thereof extending up between said article and said sides and ends and having folds projecting out at the corners of said pocket, and means for bending said folds'against said end walls.

.9. In a machine of the class described, a wrapping wheel having pockets extending across its face and thin end plates extending radially at each end "f each pocket, each pocket 'having a candy at the end of the path of the feed plunger.

bottom, and the end plates being narrower than the pockets so as to leave slots at the corners of the pockets, mechanism for inserting articles to be wrapped into said pockets with sheets of paper between said articles and the bottom and sides and endsof said pockets and with folds of said sheets projecting through said slots and the ends of said sheets projecting up imm between said articles and the sides of said pockets, means for folding said ends of said sheets down on top of said articles, andl means for folding said projecting folds in over said thin end plates.

.10. In a machine of the class described. a

wrapping wheel having pockets extending across its face. thin end plates xed to the wrapping ping mechanism and lmechanism for squeezing wheel and extending radially at each end of each pocket, the end plates being narrower than the ,f yassists 7 pockets so as to leave slots at the corners of the pockets, mechanism for rotating the wrapping wheel so that each pocket successively occupies a loading station and two folding stations and a discharging station, mechanism for loading articles into the pockets at the loading station if with sheets of paper between the articles and the bottom and sides and ends of the pockets. -the sheets of paper at the 4loading station projecting up from the sides of the pockets and having folds projecting through the slots at the corners of the pockets, means between the loading station and the second folding station for iblding down onto the articles the portions of the sheets projecting up from the sides of the pockets, a shaft near the second folding station and parallel to the axis of the wrapping wheel, two L-shaped shoes xed torocking said shoes on said shaft so that they will fold down over the end plates two of the folds projecting out through the slots at the corners of the pockets.

11. Ina wrapping machine having a wrapping wheel with article-receiving pockets extending across its face, an end fold mechanism comprising a shaft havinga fixed axis parallel to the axis of the wheel and spaced radially beyond the periphery thereof, a pair of vL-shaped folding shoes xed to each other and rotatable on said shaft. and means to rock the shoes on the shaft so that one shoe swings down at each side of the wheel.

12. In a. wrapping machine having a pocket for receiving an article to be wrapped with a piece of wrapping material lying between said article and the sides and bottom of the pocket and projecting up at the sides of said article, a mecha nism for folding down one of the upwardly projecting portions lof the wrapping material comprising an arm, a freely rotatable roller resiliently mounted on the arm about a fixed axis, and means for swinging the arm so that the roller rolls past the side of the pocket onto said article and folds down the piece of wrapping material.

13. In a wrapping machinehavlng a wrapping wheel and means for discharging articles from the wrapping wheel, a discharge box for receiving articles from the wrapping wheel, a bracket onthemachinaalinkconnectedtothebncket andtothedischargeboxbypivots whoeeaxeslie in a plane perpendicular to the direction In `gether and pivoted on said shaft. and means for f which said articles are discharged from the wrapping wheel, means for preventing rotation of the discharge box, means for resiliently urging the discharge box toward the wrapping wheel, and stopmeans for limiting movement of the discharge box toward the wrapping wheel.

14.-. In a wrapping machine, a discharge chute having a bottom member over which articles are adapted to be moved, a pair of side members pivoted to the bottom member at points spaced a substantial distance below the path of said articles -and extending along the sides of said path', spring means for swinging the upper parts of said side members towards each other, and means for heating said side members.

15. The method of preparing candies for being wrapped up together in groups which comprises taking a predetermined number of candies, forming them into a row with the candies therein lying iat against each other and isolated from other candies, and subjecting the row of candies to endwise pressure until it is squeezed down to a predetermined dimension.

18. The method of preparing candies for being wrapped up together in groups which comprises taking a predetermined number of candies, forming them into a row'with the candies therein lying flat against each other and isolated from other candies, and subjecting the row of candies to endwise pressure while confining the candies against expansion in opposed directions at right angles to the directions of applied pressure until the row is squeezed down to a predetermined dimension.

17. In a wrapping machine having a wrapping wheel with article-receiving pockets extending across the face thereof, and end fold mechanism comprising a shaft parallel to the axis of said wheel and spaced radially a flxed distance beyond the periphery thereof, and a pair of folding shoes swingable on said shaft, each of said shoes having a projecting operative end with a radially extending leading edge so located with respect to said shaft as to swing from a position entirely beyond the periphery of said wheel to a position beside said wheel and entirely within the periphery thereof and thence at least partly acro one end oi' one oi said pockets.

WALTER HAYNES SERGENT. 

